Effect of providing light during incubation on the health, productivity, and behavior of broiler chickens

The proper spatial distribution of chickens is an indication of a healthy flock. Routine inspections of broiler chicken floor distribution are done manually in commercial grow-out houses every day, which is labor intensive and time consuming. This task requires an efficient and automatic system that can monitor the chicken’s floor distributions. In the current study, a machine vision-based method was developed and tested in an experimental broiler house. For the new method to recognize bird distribution in the images, the pen floor was virtually defined/divided into drinking, feeding, and rest/exercise zones. As broiler chickens grew, the images collected each day were analyzed separately to avoid biases caused by changes of body weight/size over time. About 7000 chicken areas/profiles were extracted from images collected from 18 to 35 days of age to build a BP neural network model for floor distribution analysis, and another 200 images were used to validate the model. The results showed that the identification accuracies of bird distribution in the drinking and feeding zones were 0.9419 and 0.9544, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R), mean square error (MSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) of the BP model were 0.996, 0.038, and 0.178, respectively, in our analysis of broiler distribution. Missed detections were mainly caused by interference with the equipment (e.g., the feeder hanging chain and water line); studies are ongoing to address these issues. This study provides the basis for devising a real-time evaluation tool to detect broiler chicken floor distribution and behavior in commercial facilities.

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Effect of different litter material on performance and behavior of broiler chickens

Applied Animal Behaviour Science ◽

10.1016/j.applanim.2009.11.008 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 122 (1) ◽

pp. 48-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Majid Toghyani ◽

Abasali Gheisari ◽

Mehrdad Modaresi ◽

Sayed Ali Tabeidian ◽

Mehdi Toghyani

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

And Behavior

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Effects of Light Color on Energy Expenditure and Behavior in Broiler Chickens

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences ◽

10.5713/ajas.2012.12425 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (7) ◽

pp. 1044-1049 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Nara Kim ◽

Sang-rak Lee ◽

Sang-Jin Lee

Keyword(s):

Energy Expenditure ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Light Color ◽

And Behavior

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Influence of Stocking Density with Different Light System on the Growth Performance and Behavior in Broiler Chickens

Korean Journal of Poultry Science ◽

10.5536/kjps.2019.46.4.297 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 297-304

Author(s):

Chun Ik Lim ◽

Md Masud Rana ◽

Il Bok Choi ◽

Kyeong Seon Ryu

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Light System ◽

And Behavior

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PSVIII-32 Late-Breaking Abstract: The effect of outdoor stocking density and weather on the behavior of broiler chickens raised in mobile shelters on pasture

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.615 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 349-350

Author(s):

Brad J Heins ◽

Hannah Phillips

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Heat Index ◽

Central Research ◽

University Of Minnesota ◽

Behavioral Differences ◽

Bird Density ◽

Hot Weather ◽

And Behavior ◽

The University

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the behavior, and the relationship between weather and behavior, of broilers raised in mobile shelters with two stocking densities of pasture access. Fifty straight-run Freedom Rangers were used in three replicates (n = 150) at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center (Morris, MN). From 4 to 11 weeks of age, birds were housed in a mobile shelter divided into two equal-sized pens with daily access to pasture. Birds were allocated to one of the two pens corresponding to the treatment groups: 1) high (0.46 m2 per bird) and 2) low (2.5 m2 per bird) density outdoor pasture allowance. Ten focal birds per pen were randomly designated for behavior observations performed eight times weekly from 5 to 10 weeks of age. Counts of the number of birds outside were recorded during each observation. Behaviors were recorded continuously for 1-minute durations (Animal Behaviour Pro© app) on each focal bird. The means averaged for each observation were analyzed in linear mixed models with fixed (treatment), random (pen and replicate), and repeated (observation) effects. Models included age, heat index, solar radiation, and their interactions with treatment based on a backward stepwise selection. The temperature range recorded during the study was 7 to 32 ⁰C. No behavioral differences between treatments were observed. Standing decreased (P < 0.05) as heat index increased. Pasture use declined (P < 0.05) when heat index was greater than 26 ⁰C. Foraging decreased (P < 0.05) and pasture use increased (P < 0.05) as age increased. The results of this study indicate similar behaviors of broilers raised with two levels of pasture allowance and suggests that hot weather negatively affects the use of pasture space. Thus, providing shade in pasture might be a method to increasing ranging in broilers.

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How Homo economicus lost her mind and how we can revive her

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x1800033x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

Author(s):

Peter DeScioli

Keyword(s):

Economic Thought ◽

History Of Economic Thought ◽

Homo Economicus ◽

Economic Theories ◽

Target Article ◽

History Of ◽

The Mind ◽

And Behavior

AbstractThe target article by Boyer & Petersen (B&P) contributes a vital message: that people have folk economic theories that shape their thoughts and behavior in the marketplace. This message is all the more important because, in the history of economic thought, Homo economicus was increasingly stripped of mental capacities. Intuitive theories can help restore the mind of Homo economicus.

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The parent-offspring microbiome and neurobehavioral development

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x18002819 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey R. Alberts ◽

Christopher Harshaw ◽

Gregory E. Demas ◽

Cara L. Wellman ◽

Ardythe L. Morrow

Keyword(s):

Mammalian Species ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Neurobehavioral Development ◽

Emotional Function ◽

Neurobehavioral Outcomes ◽

Methodological Approaches ◽

And Behavior

Abstract We identify the significance and typical requirements of developmental analyses of the microbiome-gut-brain (MGB) in parents, offspring, and parent-offspring relations, which have particular importance for neurobehavioral outcomes in mammalian species, including humans. We call for a focus on behavioral measures of social-emotional function. Methodological approaches to interpreting relations between the microbiota and behavior are discussed.

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TEM evaluation of graded SixGe1-x heterolayers

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100088786 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 894-895

Author(s):

N. David Theodore ◽

Mamoru Tomozane ◽

Ming Liaw

Keyword(s):

Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors ◽

Gas Flow ◽

Field Effect Transistors ◽

Chemical Vapor ◽

Dark Field ◽

Bipolar Transistors ◽

Structural Quality ◽

Weak Beam ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

And Behavior

There is extensive interest in SiGe for use in heterojunction bipolar transistors. SiGe/Si superlattices are also of interest because of their potential for use in infrared detectors and field-effect transistors. The processing required for these materials is quite compatible with existing silicon technology. However, before SiGe can be used extensively for devices, there is a need to understand and then control the origin and behavior of defects in the materials. The present study was aimed at investigating the structural quality of, and the behavior of defects in, graded SiGe layers grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).The structures investigated in this study consisted of Si1-xGex[x=0.16]/Si1-xGex[x= 0.14, 0.13, 0.12, 0.10, 0.09, 0.07, 0.05, 0.04, 0.005, 0]/epi-Si/substrate heterolayers grown by CVD. The Si1-xGex layers were isochronally grown [t = 0.4 minutes per layer], with gas-flow rates being adjusted to control composition. Cross-section TEM specimens were prepared in the 110 geometry. These were then analyzed using two-beam bright-field, dark-field and weak-beam images. A JEOL JEM 200CX transmission electron microscope was used, operating at 200 kV.

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